A section of guild student leaders across institutions of higher learning have on Wednesday morning jointly submitted another official communication to the Ministry of Education-MOE as a reminder to an earlier petition on a clear plan for reopening schools.
On the 23rd of August, the student leaders petitioned the MOE and the National Council for Higher Education -NCHE, giving a 30-day ultimatum to deliver a clear plan on reopening institutions of higher learning.
Among issues of contention was the online system of learning(ODEL System )that the students said has not been effective for learners.
The students explained that this has marginalized many students and only favored those who were prepared and others already part of the system.
They argue that online studies don’t give students a chance to fully utilize items paid for like sports, halls of residence, and library among others.
The students also emphasized the need for a clear plan on the part of the government to enable them to have physical lessons like upgrading health infrastructure in schools, funding institutions.
Among the key requirements in their petition is Covid19 vaccination of learners to avoid the 3rd wave that would lead to the closure of institutions again.
Today, led by Kyambogo guild president Mbaziira John close to 10 student leaders marched to the MOE to remind them that the 30 days ultimatum still stands despite the gov’t plan to reopen schools.
student leaders in service included Mbaziira John, Guild president Kyambogo, Ssepijja Ivan Makerere Makerere University, Male Ashiraf Muteesa 1royal University, and Ogwang Robinson MUBS.
Mbaziira, shortly after handing in the submission said; ”Today with have logged in our formal communication to remind them that the ultimatum still stands, we have moved 10 days, we have seen the recent sarcasm around the reopening of schools in 2 weeks but the MOE is not considering other requirements for reopening, like funding of these institutions to upgrade health infrastructure, we told them to bail out private institutions,to issue out a timely vaccination plan for students, there are no vaccines in health centers”
Ogwang Robinson from Guild president MUBs: ”Our request has been received by the office of the MOE, we have students going out to vaccinate, but are not getting this vaccination, the MOE says they will bring vaccines in schools but we are not sure if it will happen, because there is a lot of moving back and forth, they are contradicting, if a ministry official says something, then a commissioner comes out to contradict, we see a hiccup in the future of what they are discussing. our countdown still continues, if there is no response we shall have another action”
The MOE is yet to issue a statement on the petition logged by the guild student leaders.
By Rashidah Naakayi
